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T. H. KRUSE.

FASTENING FOR RAILROAD RAILS.

APPLICATION FILED APn.24. ms.

1 1 ,5 1 l Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

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THEODORE H. KRUSE, OF ARVADA, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FREDERICK A. CANTRALL, OF AE'VADA, COLORADO.

FASTENING FOB RAILROAD-RAILS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE I-I. Knusn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arvada, in the county of Jefferson and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Fastening for Railroad-Rails, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a fastening for railroad rails, and the invention aims to provide novel means whereby a railroad rail may be held to a tie without the use of spikes, bolts and the like.

Specifically, the invention aims to improve the key whereby the rails are held in place, and to improve those elements wherewith the key coacts.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a tie equipped with the device forming the subject matter of this application, parts being broken away, and parts appearing in section; Fig. 2 is a fragmental top plan showing one end of a tie wherewith the present invention is assembled; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a tie embodying the present invention; Fig. 4 is a top plan of a key; Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 55 of Fig. 4 Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is fragmental cross section showing a slight modification in a tie; andFig. 8 is side elevation showing-a means whereby the key may be removed, parts appearing in section.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a hollow metal tie 1. The tie may be of rectangular construction, as shown best in Fig. 3, or it may be rounded upon its edges, as indicated at 2 in-Fig. 7 The fastening means upon which this appli-- cation is based may, generally speaking, be

applied to ties of widely difierent sorts, without jeopardizing the utility of the in vention. The tie is equipped at its ends with duplicate structures, and on account of this duplication, one end of the tie will be described, it being understood that the two ends of the tie are alike. In the tie 1 adjacent its ends, openings 3 are formed. Resting on the tie 1 between the openings 3 is a rail 4 embodying a ball 5, a web 6 and a flange 7. Disposed upon opposite sides of the rail 4 are rail braces which are made of metal, preferably, each brace includ ing a base 8' having sloping sides 9 and a sloping end 10. Formed integrally with the base 8 and upstanding therefrom is a rib 11. The sides 12 of the rib 11 preferably are vertically disposed and are parallel. The upper edge 14 of the rib is inclined and merges intothe sloping end of the base 8. Depending from the base 8 and ordinarily formed integrally therewith are lugs 15 which register with the openings 3 of the tie 1. The inner lower edges of the ribs 11 of the braces are inclined as indicated at 28 to overhang the flange 7 of the rail 4:, the inner ends of the ribs 11 abutting against the opposite faces of the web 6 of the rail, in a manner which will be clearly understood from Fig. 1 of the drawings. At their inner ends and upon their upper edges, the ribs 11 of the braces areprovided with horizontal faces 29, facilitating the insertion of the inner ends of the ribs 11 beneath the ball 5 of the rail 4:. In the depending lugs 15 of the braces, openings 16 are formed.

The invention comprises a resilient key denoted by the numeral 17 and comprising a body 18 and a depending end 19 disposed at right angles to the body 18. The key 17 preferably is made out of round stock, the outer end of the body 18 and the portion 19 of the key being of circular cross section,

-as will be understood from Fig. 5. On its upper face, the key 17 is flattened as shown at 20, and is tapered, so that the key is of wedge shape. Further, intermediate its ends,

the body portion 18 of the key is curved downwardly as shown at 21.

In practical operation, the body portion 18 of the key is thrust through the openings 16 in the lugs 15 on the braces, and thus the braces are held down on the flange 7 of the rail 4. The downwardly curved part 21 of the key lies between the lugs 15, as shown in Fig. 1, and consequently an accidental displacement of the key will be practically impossible. Since the end 19 of the key 17 eX- tends downwardly, it may be manipulated by any suitable drawingmechanism, the structure shown in Fig. 8 preferably being used, although I am aware of the fact that this part of the invention cannot be covered in the present application.

, Referring to Fig. 8, there is'shown a rack bar 22 having at its inner end an eye 23 adapted to engage the end 19 of the key 17 On the lower edge of the rack bar 22, teeth 24 are formed. The numeral 26 designates an opening in a crow bar 25 through which the rack bar 22 extends. Projecting across the opening 26 in the crow bar 25 is a pin 27 adapted to engage the teeth 24 of the rack bar 22. A casual inspection'of Fig. 8 will indicate that the rack bar 22 and the crow bar 25 may be used with expediency in withdrawing the key 17. t

Especial emphasis is laid on the fact that the key 17 iscurved at 21 intermediate its ends. This bend in the key cooperating with the lugs 15 on the rail braces, serves to hold the rail 4 in place, without the use of spikes, bolts or the like, and owing to the specific construction of the key, it is practically impossible to displace the key accidentally.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is In a fastening of the class described, a tie; a rail disposed above the tie; braces located on opposite sides of the rail and equipped with lugs extended through the top of the tie, the lugs being provided with apertures; and a spring key in the apertures and coacting with the top of the tie, the key being curved, between the lugs, to prevent an accidental withdrawal of the key.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE II. KRUSE.

Witnesses:

Tnos. O. SPAOEY, 0. WV. BnowN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

1 Washington, D. C)- 

